Indeed, in an interview -- translated from the French -- with MobiFrance, Zolghadr said:

"For the launch of Marketplace, 600 applications will be certified
and available. It will be possible to retrieve the software from the
search engine. Only software compatible with the screen resolution,
touch or not touch will be visible to the user. Customers can test the
software since they will be sold with a satisfaction or your money back
offer valid for 24 hours. The customer may choose to pay by credit card
will be billed directly or by deduction from the invoice operator (as
operators). Microsoft wants to make the smartphone more fun. We offer
new games for free. We signed a partnership with EA Games and
manufacturers can integrate such mobile Sim City and other surprises."

Despite being a relatively low number when compared to recent
smartphone marketplaces such as Nokia's Ovi Store, Engadget Mobile says
the Microsoft marketplace may be on the right track.
Said blogger Chris Ziegler on Engadget Mobile:

"At the end of the day, it's all about signal-to-noise ratio; if
Microsoft can deliver 600 apps and half of those are terrific, they're
on the right track -- though at this point, we're thinking the next
battle in Smartphone Platform Wars doesn't really kick off until WinMo
7 swings by anyway."

In a March 11 announcement, Microsoft laid out details about how
developers can build and sell applications for Windows phones through
Windows Marketplace for Mobile, the company's application marketplace
available with the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system.

Darryl K. Taft covers the development tools and developer-related issues beat from his office in Baltimore. He has more than 10 years of experience in the business and is always looking for the next scoop. Taft is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and was named 'one of the most active middleware reporters in the world' by The Middleware Co. He also has his own card in the 'Who's Who in Enterprise Java' deck.